Season two of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) kicks off today with the opening ceremony being held at Dubai International Stadium.
The opening ceremony started with the national anthems of Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Organisers have billed it to be an entertaining event, with celebrity appearances and a fireworks display.
The stadium floodlights have been switched off, while LED lights of different hues are being used for a lights display in addition to live performance by musicians.
Drummers suspended from the top wearing fancy clothes put on quite a show.And we spot a woman among them too!
Celebrity and TV show host Fahad Mustafa is trying to charge up the crowd with chants of “This league belongs to the whole of Pakistan”.
Songs in the four provincial languages are being played, as dancers in traditional wear take center stage. A projector is projecting images of Pakistan’s famous monuments.
Pakistan’s alternative anthem by Junaid Jamshed, Dil Dil Pakistan is playing with the crowd singing along. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s patriotic song Pakistan Pakistan is being played.
PCB Chairman Shaheryar Khan has now taken the podium and is making the welcome speech. Khan thanked Sheikh al Nahyan, UAE president, for hosting the event.
He talked about the final in Lahore. “The success of PSL will open the gates for others to start coming into Pakistan.” He added that the match in Lahore is significant as it will show that Pakistan has “normalised” it terms of security
The PSL teams have now walked out onto the field, lead by Islamabad United. Cricketing legend Wasim Akram and actor Fawad Khan are leading the players, who are all dressed in dark green shalwar kameez and black waistcoats.
The Karachi Kings have walked out in their playing kits. The Lahore Qalanders, also dressed in their playing kits, walked out lead by their skipper Brendon McCullum.
Peshawar Zalmi, along with Shahid Afridi and Darren Sammy, have now walked out in to the stadium. Quetta Gladiators with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed have now entered the stadium.
Sheikh Mubarak bin Zayed al Nahyan has taken the podium and addressing the teams and excited fans in the stadium.
“Pakistan Super League is a testimony of the strong bond between the countries.” He also wished the best to the teams and PSL.
Chairman PSL Najam Sethi is now addressing the crowds.
“The difference between the last edition and this edition is that now we have bigger stars. The pitches are designed in a way that there will be big runs. If someone in the crowd catches a sixer, they will win Rs1 crore,” said Sethi.
He also vowed to bring cricket back to Pakistan.
Sethi has called Misbah on stage, and the crowd welcomes him with a thundering applause.
All the five captains are in stage now and are signing the bat which will be auctioned. The proceeds from the auction will go to the Edhi Foundation
Jamaican singing sensation Shaggy has now taken to the stage, and kicked off the musical portion with a medley of his most famous songs.
Shahzad Roy appears on stage, performing his rendition of the PSL anthem. Its Ali Zafar’s turn now to entertain the packed stadium! He starts with Asman ko chootay jaen hum. Troupe of dancers are in perfect rhythm with the songs!
The firework display just started and has awed the crowd! The sky is lit up by colour as the crowd goes crazy with the awe inspiring performance!
The opening ceremony concludes, and what a show it was! The crowd is hyped up for the first match now between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi.
Twitter is buzzing with excitement as PSL fans are tweeting that “The wait is finally over”.